Pressure fed, wallboard taping machine



Nov. 7, 1961 J. D. GOODE, JR PRESSURE FED, WALLBOARD TAPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 9, 1959 m T N E V m M 0 0 M W J Nov. 7, 1961 J. D. GOODE, JR

PRESSURE FED, WALLBOARD TAPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JYMFIQFJJ? J? INVENTOR HIE HGENT J. D. GOODE, JR PRESSURE FED, WALLBOARD TAPING MACHINE Nov. 7,1961

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 9, 1959 I ms at; m-

PRESSURE FED, WALLBOARD TAPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9'. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR .r HIS HGENT 3,007,837 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 United States Patent Ofiiice 3,007,837 PRESSURE FED, WALLBOARD TAPING MACHINE James D. Geode, Jr., Wichita Falls, Tex. Filed-Nov. 9, 1959, SenNo. 851,687 14' Claims. (Cl. 156-461) This invention relates to taping machines and more particularly to taping machines to coat wallboard tape with mastic and to apply the tape to the joints and to the corners of wallboard in a rapid and expeditious manner.

The present device is so-constructed that a relatively inexperienced operator may apply wallboard tape, which is coated with a layer of bedding cement, in a workmanlike manner and much more rapidly than the average experienced workman can apply such tape to the wallboard joints, by conventional manual methods.

Various taping machines have been proposed heretofore, but these, for the most part, were cumbersome to handle, and could not be operated effectively in certain positions, or under certain conditions. The present tool is so constructed that is willapply coated wallboard tape to walls, ceilings and to exterior and interior corners, with a minimum of tool pieces and with a minimum of change from one type of Work to another type work.

The present device is so constructed, that mastic bedding material is supplied to the device for coating the tape under hydraulic pressure, which enables larger quantities of mastic of bedding material in larger containers to be located remotely therefrom and wherein the mastic may be supplied to the side of the tape adjacent the wallboard inimmediate proximity to the point where the tape is being applied, thereby preventing undue drying of the mastic material. Furthermore, the mastic may be applied to the inner side of the tape to a desired thick ness, which thickness is controlled by the flexing of the blade of the tool, and the flow of mastic may be coritrolled or entirely closed off. To cut off the flow of mastic to the tool the pressure is released fromthe blade of the tool. Therefore, waste of the mud is prevented, which waste presents unsightly and possibly damaging conditions to floors and the like, in the room in which the tape is being applied. a

An object of this invention is to provide a taping machine for applying tape to wallboard joints preparatory to finishing the wall, which machine is light, easy to operate, and which may be readily controlled, by the operator, to supply the desired amount of mud or mastic to the side of the tape that is being applied to the wallboard joints. i

Another object of the invention is to' provide a taping machine for taping wallboard joints and the like, Wherein bedding mud is supplied under hydraulic pressure to coat the tape, the supply of which mud is controlled by the manipulation of the blade of the tool.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tool for which only two blades are required to properly tape both flat surfaces and exterior and interior corners. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a taping tool wherein the spool of wallboard tape may be readily removed and replaced in a minimum of time.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a control and cut-off valve on or adjacent the taping machine, which cut-oif valve will enable the mud to be quickly closed off, as for changing from a flat blade to a corner blade or the like, without the necessity of having to leave the operating position- Another object of the invention is to provide' a pneumatically actuated mud dispenser, wherein mud is dispensed, under pneumatic pressure, from a remote reservoir, to a point of use. 7

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a tool for applying mastic to wallboard tape which tool is simple. in construction, easy to use, low in the cost of manufacture and which is sturdy of construction and durable in use.

,With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a'perspective view of one form of tool, taken from the bottom and a side, and showing the tape extending outward therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tool as shown inFIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2, looking in the directionindicated by the arrows, with parts broken away, and with parts shown in elevation to bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on'the line of FIG. 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; t 1 ,FIG.-5 is a top plan view of the device as shown in FIG. 1, with-parts thereof broken away to show the details of construction; P ,f a. 1

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on theline 66 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction indicated by'the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line ,7.-' 7 of FIG. 5, looking1in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a composite,.perspective view showing the reservoir for the mastic, with a hose leading therefrom, and with, the taping tool being shown on the hose in position to apply mud to the tape and the tape to the wall board;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of trol valve on the taping tool;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational .view of the taping tool showing the blade thereon in position to apply tapeto. an exterior corner; 1

FIG. ll is asectional view takenonthe line 11--11 of FIG. 10, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows; y

;FIG". 12 is a'sectionalview taken on the line 12-.-12,of FIG. 10,,1ooking in the directionindicatedby the arrows;

FIG. 13 isa sectional view taken on the'line 13-43 of FIG. 10, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows- 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the taping machine'and showing the corner tapingblade attached thereto in position to apply wallboard tape to an interior corner;

- FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15 15 of FIG. 14, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 14, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows;

FIG. 17 is a perspective viewof the corner taping blade removed from thetool and showing the side of the toolfor taping concave, interior corners; and 1 FIG. 18 is -a perspectiveview similar to FIG. 17,-but of the opposite sideof the tool for taping exterior corners. v i p With more detailed reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates generally the form of taping tool of the machine as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8. The taping machine, which has a.taping tool thereon, is so. constructed as to coat the side of thetape opposite the troweling blade of the tool, so that the coated side of the tape may be'readily applied to'the wallboard joint, which Wall'- board taping is usually referred-to, in the trade, as dry wall taping.

a cut-off and con- Various taping machines and apparatus have been proposed heretofore, but these, for the most part, were heavy and cumbersome, and usually carried a mud reservoir and a roll of tape thereon, which made it tiring to the workman who used such devices. Furthermore, most of the tools in use heretofore did'only part of the operation of muddingand applying the tape to the wallboard joint, thereby making it necessary to have morethan one device to perform all the necessary steps of tap ing a wall-board joint.

The present taping machine, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, has a taping tool 1, on which tool a hollow handle 2 is screw-threaded, as indicated at 4, to threadably receive a mud sup ly hose connection, or the connection 6 of a. cut-off valve, as indicated at 8, to which valve a flexible hose 10 is connected which leads to a mud reservoir 12. The mud reservoir 12 may have a piston type partition 14 therein so that pneumatic pressure may be applied through connection 16 into the upperpohtion of the reservoir 12 to force mud therefrom and through the hose 10 and valve 8'to the taping tool 1.

The taping tool 1 has a hollow body portion 18, which is preferably wider than the tape 20, which is to be coated, which tape is rolled on a spool 21. Standards-22 and 24 are secured to opposite sides of hollow body 18, as by screws-25. The standards 22 and 24 are each apertured near the upper ends thereof to receive a shaft 26 therethrough, which shaft has a head 28 on one end thereof; The other end of the shaft 26 is bifurcated to receive a pivoted latch member 30 therein, which latch is pivotally connected to shaft 26 by a pivot pin 32 which passes transversely through an aperture in the shaft and through an aperture in the latch member 30. The latch 30 may be pivoted from the position, as shown in full outline in FIGS. 1, 2 3, and 5, to that shown in dashed outline in FIG. 3, when it is desired to place a spool 21 for tape 20 on the shaft 26, or to remove the spool "of tape therefrom. The standard 22 is hinged, as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and to pivot about a pin 23, from the position as shown in full outline in FIG. 3, to that shown indashed out-line therein. In so doing, the latch 30 may be moved to the dashed outline position, so the spool 21 may be removed therefrom, or to the spool of tape thereinto.

A roller 34 is journaled in standards 22 and 24 and is positioned below the hinge pin 23, so as to guide the tape 20 oil the spool 21, and down beneath the roller 34 and through a slot 36 formed in: blade s8, a oint near the outer end of body '18. The tape passes beneath the blade 38 into contact relation with a cover plate 40, whichplate closm the upper portion of hollow body 18, with the exception of an elongated slot 42, which is formed trans- 'ver'sely across the cover plate 40, immediately adjacent the end of hollow body '1'8. The elongated slot 42 is of a length slightly less than the width the 'tape 20, so that the ra e form-a gasket seal between the upper face of the cover plate 40 and the lower face of trowel blade 38.

The blade 38 extends outward and is preferably made of resilient material, such as steel or spring steel, and is of such width and shape as to enable the pressing of the tape into tight relation with the wallboa'rd, so as to form 'a smooth joint. The blade 38 has holes 44 therein, which holes slidably receive screws 46, which screws pass therethrough and are screw threaded into, or otherwise secured, to cover plate 40, as will best be seen in FIGS. and 6*. A spring 48 is telescoped over each of the screws 46, which springs arein bearing relation with the upper face of the blade 38. A wing nut 50 is screw threaded onto each screw 46 inbearing relation with the respective compression springs 48, so, upon tightening wing nuts 50, spring pressure will bear 'on the upper face ofblade 38,.to cause. the blade to move into binding engagement with the tape 20, so as to close slot 42, in cover plate 40, when the tool is not in use.

4 The valve 8 is preferably connected to and is immediately adjacent the handle 2, which valve preferably has a cut-off regulator as indicated at 9, to enable the mud to be readily turned on or turned oil at this point.

Operation of first form of tool In order to operate the taping machine as shown'in FIGS. 1 through 8, the reservoir 12 is filled to the desired level with mud or bedding material of the character used by taping and bedding artisans. Then an pressure or other suitable pressure is applied to the mud within reservoir 12, which causes the mud or bedding material to flow through hose 10 to valve 8, and upon opening valve 8 to the desired degree, the mud will flow, through handle 2 into the hollow body 1-8. However, with the wing nuts 50 adjusted to apply spring pressure to blade 38, the blade will cause the tape 20 to form a mud tight seal between the upper face of cover plate 40 and the face of tape 20 adjacent thereto. However, upon the artisan pressing the blade 38 against the wall surface, the blade will yield, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, which will permit a gauged amount of mud or bedding material to flow from the hollow body 18 out through slot 42 'onto the side of the tape 20 that istobe applied to the wall. As greater pressure is applied to the blade, the elongated slot is uncovered to a greater degree, which will permit a larger amount of mud to flow therefrom, and likewise, as the pressure is released, the mud. flow will be decreased, or upon release of all pressure, to the blade 38, the flow of mud will be closed off. However, as pressure is applied and the coated tape is fitted in place to cover the wallboard joint, thetool is drawn in the direction toward the hollow handle, which will enable the coating of the tape with the mud or bedding material and simul-- taneously the tape will be applied to the joint as it is. fed from roll 21 until the tape is exhausted therefrom;

The flow of mud through hose 10 may be further reg+ ulated by having the valve 8 connected to the handle 2, the opening of which valve may be gauged so that more pressure may be applied to the trowel blade, by hand, without a surplus of mud extruding through the slot 42. However, immediately upon release of pressure on blade 38, the slot 42 will be closed, thereby the mud supply will be shut olf.

The form of blade as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, is for applying tape to flat walls. However, for taping ex.- terior and interior corners, the blade 38 may bedetached from the cover plate 40 and another blade attached thereto, by means of screws 39, which blade will make possible the performance of these particular functions.

Second form of invention The second form of invention is shown in FIGS. 10 through 18, which form comprises a blade, generally designated at 71, as best shown in perspective in FIGS. '17 and 18, which is readily attached to the cover 40 of the body 18 of the taping machine as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8. By attaching the blade, designated at 71, in the manner as shown in FIG. 10, to the cover plate 40 i so that the apexr80 ofth'eblade 71 will extend upward, as

shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 and 17. The tape 20 is then threaded through slot 72 in blade 71 so the tape will pass outward between the upper face of cover plate 40 and the lower face of the flat portion 74 of blade 71, with the screw threaded members 46 being slidably fitted through holes 76 in blade portion 74, and with the springs 48 in bearing relation against the upper face of blade portion 74, and with the wing nuts 50 adjusted to apply spring pres sure to the upper face of the blade 71 so as to seal the transverse slot 42, the tool is ready to be used.

The blade 71 slopes upwardly, as indicated at 7 8, and the blade converges to form substantially a right angle apex 80 at the outer end. Therefore, upon the tape 20 passing outward through the inner portion 'of-"the a ex 80, FIG. 1-3 and with the tape, which has been coated with mud or mastic bedding material passing over slot 42 Operation of second form of invention With the tape 20 folded at 90 degrees, as indicated in FIG. 13, pressure is exerted on blade 71 at the outer end thereof, which will cause the portion 74 thereof to spring away from the cover plate 40, whereupon, mud or bedding material will be extruded through slot 42 onto the lower side of the tape 20. As the tool is drawn along the exterior corner, the tape 20 will be folded and creased and applied snugly to the 90 degree corner, and as more mud on the tape is needed, greater pressure .is applied on the blade 71, which will cause the slot 42 to be opened to a greater degree to permit mud to escape therefrom, under the pressure exerted on reservoir 12, in accordance with the amount of pressure applied to the blade 71.

The valve 8, as shown in FIG. 9, may be regulated to give the maximum flow, if desired, or the wing nuts 50 may be tightened or loosened to decrease or increase the flow, respectively, in accordance with the pressure applied. By using the blade in this manner, exterior corners may be readily taped. However, the same blade maybe reversed to tape interior corners.

Modified use of second form of invention The blade 71 may be reversed, in the manner shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 18, to apply the tape of an interior corner. To utilize the blade 71 in this manner, the opposite side of the blade portion 74 is fitted on cover plate 40, so that the apex 80 of the blade 71 will extend downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 14, 1S and 18,- and screws 39 are utilized to attach the blade 71 to the cover 40', whereupon, screw members 46 are slidably fitted in holes 76 so that compression springs '48 will apply pressure to the blade portion 74, upon screwing wing nuts 50 downward on the respective screw members 46.

As in the aforementioned forms of the invention, the resilient pressure applied to blade 74 forces the tape 20 downward into sealing relation with the upper face of cover plate 40, thereby a seal is formed to close the slot 42. With the hose 10 attached to handle 2, mud or bedding material is directed from reservoir 12 to valve 8, and thence, with the valve 8 open to the hollow body 18, and with the tape 20 threaded downward beneath the roller 34 and through slot 72, and thence along the exterior portion of the apex 80, the tape is coated and the tool is ready for use.

Operation of second form of invention for taping interior corners In the operation of the device as described above, to the taping of interior corners, pressure is applied to hose 10 by suitable pressure 80 of the blade 71 is placed within the interior corner, and with the outer face or apex side of the folded tape coated with mud or bedding material, the tool is drawn along the interior corner, with the desired amount of pressure being applied to the blade, a flow of mud will "be extruded through slot 42 in cover 40, the extrusion of the mud being so gauged as to apply the proper amount thereof to the tape, so the tape will be sufficiently coated to be properly applied, but with no excess mud, and with the supply of mud being shut off each time the pressure on the blade 71 is released, the tape can be applied to interior corners at a very rapid rate, with a novice performing work which must usually be done by artisans of much skill and long experience.

While the device has been illustrated and described in some detail in different forms and applications thereof, it is be to understood that changes may be made in the minor details of construction and adaptations made to types and places of use, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

within reservoir 12, and the apex Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tool for taping wallboard joints, a body having a chamber formed therein, a trowel blade having an end thereof secured in fixed relation to said body, which trowel blade has a slot formed therein within the length thereof, the other end of said blade being resiliently movable with respect to said body, said body having an opening formed in a side thereof and being in communication with said chamber therein, means guiding tape to and through said slot and between said blade and said portion of said body in which said opening is formed, said blade being movable with respect to said body to normally urge'said tape in close fitting relation therewith, and conduit means connected to said body and being in communication with said chamber therein for supplying mastic thereinto and to said tape.

2. A device for coating tape with mastic and applying said coated tape to a wallboard joint, as defined in claim 1, wherein further resilient means normally moves said blade into binding engagement with said tape to cause said tapeto etfect a seal between said tape and said body surrounding said opening therein.

3. A tool for taping wallboard joints comprising; a hollow body, an elongated trowel blade mounted on and having an end thereof attachably secured to said hollow body, said trowel blade having a slot formed therein and overlying a portion of said hollow body, tape holding means mounted on said body, guide means mounted on said body to guide said tape, said body having an opening formed in a side thereof, which opening is intermediate said slot and an end of said body, said opening being in fluid communication with the hollow portion of said body, said tape being adapted to pass through said slot in said blade and between said blade and the portion of said body in which said opening is formed, so a side of said tape will be in communication with said opening in said body, and conduit means for directing mastic substance into and through the hollow portion of said body to coat, with mastic, the side of said tape which is in communication with said opening in said body in accordance with the movement of said blade with respect to said body.

4. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 3; wherein said elongated trowel blade has at least one substantially plane face throughout the troweling length thereof, which plane face is adapted to receive the uncoated face of said tape thereagainst for application of pressure to said tape for applying the coated side of said tape to said wallboard joint.

5. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 3; wherein said elongated trowel blade attachably secured to said body is a blade which has at least two faces thereof lying in divergent planes, and wherein said tape passing outward between said body and said blade is directed onto both of said planes for applying coated tape to a wallboard joint with the surface of the wall boards lying in divergent planes.

6. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 3; wherein said elongated trowel blade has the outer end thereof of an angular shape so said coated tape passing from between said body and said blade will be directed to the apex of said angular shaped blade, with the uncoated side of said tape being against said blade.

7. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 3, wherein said elongated trowel blade has the outer end thereof of an angular shape so saidcoated tape will be directed over the exterior of the apex of said angular shaped blade, with the uncoated side of said tape being against said blade.

8. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 3, wherein said elongated trowel blade has the outer end thereof of an angular shape so said coated tape will be directed to a point interior the apex of said anguiar shaped blade, with the uncoated side of said tape being against said blade. 7

9. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 7, wherein said elongated trowel blade of angular shape has a substantially right angle exterior shape,

10. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 7, wherein said elongated trowel blade of angular shape has a substantially right angle interior shape.

11. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 1, wherein control valve means is operatively mounted within said conduit means to further control the supply of said mastic to said chamber in said body.

12. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 3, wherein said tape holding means comprises a pair of standards which extend outward from said body in substantially parallel relation, and wherein means secure the inner ends of said standards to said body, and wherein an axle extends between said standards a spaced distance outward from said body, which axle is adapted to rotatably mount a spool of said tape thereon.

13. A tool for taping wallboard joints as defined in claim 12, wherein one of said standards is hinged intermediate the length thereof, and wherein latch means is provided on said axle to secure said standard in fixed relation with respect to said axle which extends between said standards. v i

14. In a tool for taping wall board joints, a body having a chamber formed-therein, a flexible conduit connectedin fluid communication with said chamber in said body for supplying mastic to said chamber, a trowel blade mounted on said body, said trowel blade having a slot formed in the working face thereof, means guiding said wallboard tape through said slot, said body having an opening formed therein which opening is in communication with said chamber for simultaneously admitting a mastic substance to one side only of said tape as said tape is applied to said wallboard joint, and means controllable by the movement. of said blade for 'controlling the amount of mastic substance applied to the face of said tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

3. A TOOL FOR TAPING WALLBOARD JOINTS COMPRISING, A HOLLOW BODY, AN ELONGATED TROWEL BLADE MOUNTED ON AND HAVING AN END THEREOF ATTACHABLY SECURED TO SAID HOLLOW BODY, SAID TROWEL BLADE HAVING A SLOT FORMED THEREIN AND OVERLYING A PORTION OF SAID HOLLOW BODY, TAPE HOLDING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BODY, GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BODY TO GUIDE SAID TAPE, SAID BODY HAVING AN OPENING FORMED IN A SIDE THEREOF, WHICH OPENING IS INTERMEDIATE SAID SLOT AND AN END OF SAID BODY, SAID OPENING BEING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID BODY, SAID TAPE BEING ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH SAID SLOT IN SAID BLADE AND BETWEEN SAID BLADE AND THE PORTION OF SAID BODY IN WHICH SAID OPENING IS FORMED, SO A SIDE OF SAID TAPE WILL BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OPENING IN SAID BODY, AND CONDUIT MEANS FOR DIRECTING MASTIC SUBSTANCE INTO AND THROUGH THE HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID BODY TO COAT, WITH MASTIC, THE SIDE OF SAID TAPE WHICH IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OPENING IN SAID BODY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MOVEMENT OF SAID BLADE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BODY. 